Collins’ quiet tribute

The mother of a gay University of Wyoming student who was robbed and beaten to death in 1998 says she finds it touching that NBA veteran Jason Collins honored her son by wearing jersey No. 98. Matthew Shepard’s mother, Judy, said that she hadn’t known about the tribute …

The mother of a gay University of Wyoming student who was robbed and beaten to death in 1998 says she finds it touching that NBA veteran Jason Collins honored her son by wearing jersey No. 98. Matthew Shepard’s mother, Judy, said that she hadn’t known about the tribute by Collins, who this week became the first player still active in one of the four major U.S. professional sports leagues to announce that he is gay. Collins quietly made a statement for gay rights by wearing No. 98. The number refers to the year Matthew Shepard was tied to a fence and beaten outside Laramie. Shepard died days later on Oct. 12, 1998. – AP